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Wednesday, April 13, 2011

The Hobbit Inspired Home ~ Paint Part Friday Week 5 ~ April 15th 2011

I'm submitting this Artist Conk illustration for this week's Paint Party Friday Meet ~ Week 5.
This art piece was an ideal piece to work with while sitting by the living room window pondering on the days that had unfolded. Unfortunately April 11/2011 will be one date I will always remember as a dark and dreary day that woke me in the early morning hours foreboding me something bad was to come . My mom had to admit her partner of 16 years in hospital, his cancer vengefully returned.The prognosis.....not very much time.

To continue on the the Dark Sea was out of the question; I just couldn't and so I decided to work on something I had more control over, actually any sort of art or blogging and such was quite difficult this week. Today my hubby goes in for eye surgery and then maybe we as a family might get a chance for some quite time and enjoy the Spring weather. So for now this is it....Hope you like it.

These are a few of my three dimensional natural canvas artist tree conks or shelf mushrooms I gathered in the wood some time ago for use in painting, pyrography, etching and sculpting fairy homes.
Usually when these are harvested you must give them a drying period of a minimum of two months.These have been dried for some years now. Then I applied gesso and sketched my design in pencil before using the wood burning tool.



Last week I decided I wanted to try my hand at creating a fairy's door on the natural canvas using a wood burning gun ( pyrography) .
As I was designing the door my daughter said it reminded her of Bilbo Baggin's home in the Shire
from "Lord of the Rings". After viewing some pics I realized she was right but my windows were not complete circles , the door's knob wasn't in the middle of the door and I had placed a spiral rhinestone window at the top of the door with a tiny silver heart beneath it; either way I think it could pass for both a Fae's or Hobbit's home....what do you think?




I placed a daffodil in a pot by the door; Hobbit's are partial to green and yellow and to us humans Daffodils are a symbol of Spring and Hope.
I'm not sure if I'll paint the illustration; I'll leave that decision to the end of the week and get some feed back from the Paint Party Friday participants. If I do paint it, I think I'll use pen and inks.







All I have left to do now is add a lantern to the top left of the door where there is a natural hole.Then I will seal the work with a matte varnish in front and a gloss on the back. This particular Artist Conk stays erect naturally so I don't have to support it in any way. Looks quite magical on a book shelf or mantel.
The more I ponder on weather or not to paint it the more I prefer the way it is...natural like found in a wood???



Like trees the rings on the shelf mushroom tells their age.


Just remembered as I was writing this post that I had gathered a entire box full of these mushrooms  but hubby cleaned up the garage and got tried of seeing them lying around so out to the compost they went, now I would like to gather a few more....lesson learned......should never purge art supplies and get to them in a fair amount of time....years are not acceptable....haha!!


p.s. Other visitors are also welcome to give their feed back on weather or not to paint the mushroom.




Check this article out....A really gorgeous Hobbit home:)

http://www.home-designing.com/2009/09/house-that-looks-like-hobbits-home-from-lotr




Until next time try this religion.....Kindness :)

Annabelle

27 comments:

Yvonne said...

So lovely. I love Hobbits. I have many nature items sitting on my shelves and I love to leave them natural but sometimes have a surprise here and there, with the items used in art. Happy PPF and hope things get better where you are.

SHERI COOK said...

I like the Hobbit feel and the natural form you used to create the image on. Thank you for sharing it today. Happy PPF!

Crystal said...

This is lovely. I guess you have had a hard time of late. Keep a positive attitude and think happier thoughts. Art helps. :-)

Heather said...

I like it just the way it is - without color - Very natural looking, indeed! I like the sparkles on the door, too.
I am sorry for your heartache, over the past few days, keep your chin up! hugs!

Deanna said...

Annabelle this is absolutely gorgeous. I love all of the detail you have managed to add. I can't believe that is a mushroom! What a great medium to use. I like the natural look as well. I would say if you are going to paint it, maybe just do small splashes of earthtone colors here and there. Beautiful job.

GlorV1 said...

This is awesome and very creative work Annabelle. Very earthy. I hope things get better for you and yours. Sorry about the hard times. Take care. Have a wonderful weekend and Happy PPF!

Tammie Lee said...

I am sorry to hear about the sad things in your family, I send light to all of you.
your hobbit conk is wonderfully charming.

Pam Tucker said...

I am amazed that this is a mushroom! I love that you left it in its natural state and I also love what you've done to it up til now. If any color were added, I would stay with the earthtones as someone else suggested. This is awesome!

I am sending healing thoughts to you and your family.

Netty said...

Its totally amazing and so tactile, wonderful work. Hoping things get better for you really soon. Annette x

Anonymous said...

I am so sorry to hear your sad news and i hope your family does get some better times ahead.
i had never heard of a tree conk or a shelf mushroom- they are amazing! They seem almost like bone. I love your hobbit house-it's truly gorgeous! I am also torn on whether it should be coloured or not. I like it in its natural state but maybe very wishy washy colour almost like it is weathered and old might look good?

Kat W said...

Great post. I've never seen mushrooms like that. And I love your fairy door. I'd like it as it is or painted. Not a lot of help, I know, sorry!

Well wishes to your husband for a fast recovery.

Kat X

Christine said...

ooh I like your hobbit's home. so creative.

Anne Butera said...

This looks wonderful! I love it! I think you should leave it without color, just as it is.

Hope everything goes well with your family's recent health issues.

Marlene said...

Wow I love this, it is so cool. I have seen these in the woods and wondered if you could paint on them or something, now I know you can. Awesome, I will get some next time I see them.

Kristin Dudish said...

What a wonderfully unique contribution to this week's party... Fantastic!

I am sorry to hear about your mother's partner - Your family will be in my thoughts.

xo
Kristin

Rosie Kaplan said...

I think leave natural. I like the sparkle and the non natural bits you have added.

Melisa said...

I didn't know you could dry these fungus thingies! This is just delightful. I'd leave it without color, so that it is more obvious what it is. Natural is better for this, I think.

Hybrid J said...

Ah, what whimsical artwork! Just lovely. Well Done! ;)

Unknown said...

What a wonderfully magical piece- I personally wouldn't add color, because I'd be afraid of losing some of that magic. You could always do an "Act 2" and have that one be in color....
Happy PPF (a day late ;))
Stephanie

Theresa Plas said...

So very magically cool and creative! Hope all is well with you and yours!

EVA said...

I'm sorry to hear your bad news. Big hug. I hope your husband's eyes heal rapidly - they are so good with eye surgery these days. My thoughts are with you, your Mom and her partner.

What a wonderful and unique painting! I'm loving it the way it is or only a very little hint of paint. Totally charming Hobbit House!

Victoria said...

Hi Annabelle...first of all hugs and hugs..and thankyou for sharing and wishing you and all the best always! My thougths are with you!

And..such a beautiful post...beautiful...wow..they are so cool and they are going to look fabulous..shine on..beautiful work! You are awesome!
Victoria~

Lynn Stevens said...

Ohhh I forgot all about these mushrooms, I used to woodburn them also many years ago. Wonderful Fairy house, its magical!.
I hope your DH heals quickly, all my best thoughts your way!
Lynn

Priti Lisa said...

I've never seen anything like this!
So magical and natural...I think I would like to see it remain unpainted...it looks like a fairy relic.
xox

Cynthia Schelzig said...

Annabelle you have a most interesting and unique blog....a real dreamworld you have created here. Have a wonderful Sunday!

Paula - Buenos Aires said...

Magical in a dream like way.
{a hug and ~healing thoughts~}

cockerina said...

Hi Annabelle, thanks for coming to see my blog, and thanks for the compliments, too!
I had no idea that your origins were Italian, it's a great feeling to know how many Italians are there in the world!
a warm hug, and ... many kisses from Italy!
Caterina

MIDNIGHT MARGARITAS

MIDNIGHT MARGARITAS
A place for keeping my art in larger formats

*** Sir Arthur Conan Doyle ***

*** Sir Arthur Conan Doyle ***
“Where there is no imagination there is no horror”. Arthur Conan Doyle, Sr.

*** Sir Christopher Lee ***

*** Sir Christopher Lee ***
“There are many vampires in the world today - you only have to think of the film business”

* ~ Spirit of the Night ~

* ~ Spirit of the Night ~
Soon it will be Hallows Eve...Time to create Art from the Dark Side ***Annabelle

~ Turn of the Screw ~

~ Turn of the Screw ~
A Flickr mosaic I made some time ago ~ Annabelle

WE WERE SOLDIERS

WE WERE SOLDIERS
~ Annabelle

Twilight at Sea


The Twilight Hours like birds flew by,
As lightly and as free;
Ten thousand stars were in the sky,
Ten Thousand on the sea;
For every wave with dimpled face,
That leaped upon the air,
Had caught a star in its embrace,
And held it trembling there.

Amelia Coppuck Welby

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